Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Acolyte’s Education
SERIES: Kontra’s Menagerie
AUTHOR: Charlie Richards
PUBLISHER: eXtasy
LENGTH: 84 pages
RELEASE DATE: February 12, 2022
BLURB:
On the Road: Having known who his mate is for over a year and a half, now that he’s free, the brown bear shifter will do anything to win his human’s heart and claim him.
Shannon knew it was a mistake. He should have found a better way, a way that didn’t put the remaining members of his sleuth in danger. Except, with his brown bear driving him, he takes advantage of the unguarded phone and calls the very people who’d enslaved them—the witch circle. To Shannon’s relief, no one is seriously injured in the witches’ attack, and the circle is stopped. On top of that, the women brought Shannon exactly who he’d hoped—Evan Reyes. Shannon had known Evan was his mate the second he’d scented the skinny twink while in the head witch’s kennels. Being be-spelled, Shannon had never been able to do anything about it. Now, he can. Of course, Shannon has a butt-load of restitution to get through first—not to mention having to figure out how to counter the witches’ lies that are filling Evan’s head—but this is his mate. With the help of his sleuth, even though they’re annoyed with him, Shannon can fix everything, can’t he?
REVIEW:
Note: This is the 32nd book in this series, but it works as a stand alone as long as the reader has some knowledge of this paranormal world.
Evan Reyes has been working for some witches. They have filled his head with lies about shifters because they have captured and enslaved a bear sleuth and made them do their bidding. Evan mistakenly believes that he is cursed and the witches have offered to “lift” the curse if he comes and lives with them and also does their bidding. Turns out that is some more lies too!
Shannon is one of the bear shifters who has been captured and bespelled. He and his sleuth have to do the bidding of the witches or risks agonizing pain. They’ve been moved around, used as hired muscle and even “leased out” to others. But when Shannon has an opportunity to help get them free he takes it. The cost is high though and there are losses.
Evan has been brainwashed by the witches and he is terrified of shifters. When Shannon tells him the truth, he’s still a bit skeptical. When he’s scared by a shifter and tried to escape, well things go from bad to worse. And then there is the issue of his best friend Gary who is looking for him that puts the whole group on the radar of folks that they’d rather not have looking for them. Fortunately the mate bond does its work and the shifters and others are able to convince Evan that Shannon is telling the truth and that he really is right where he needs to be.
Well it took me a little bit to get back into this because it’s been a while since I read the last book in this series and I couldn’t quite place some of the gang. But I always like revisiting Alpha Kontra and his mate, Tim the warlock. This ragtag band of shifters and their mates, whether human, shifter, warlock or vampire are a fun group. Payson the hyena is always providing some comic relief. The humans who have joined the group are always helpful to any newbie who is trying to wrap their heads round the whole paranormal world 🙂 I love Evan’s very natural reaction to seeing a large snake in a house! The guys are all so helpful to ease the transition for Shannon and Evan though. Yes, there is a pattern and “formula” to these books so I wasn’t surprised by anything here, but it was a quick read with these fated mates and a bit of hurt/comfort thrown in. With Gary’s arrival, I can’t wait to see how he’s going to fit in with this group. I guess we’ll have to wait for the next book 😉 For fans of this series, this addition expands this family of paranormals in a new way.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
eXtasy